Local Girl Scouts Plan Watershed Improvement Project this Weekend

Girl Scouts around Lake Minnetonka will celebrate their final Girl Scout Centennial event by working together to improve the local watershed this Saturday, Oct. 13.

Taking place in all 49 counties of the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys Council, the 2012 Centennial Day of Service Take Action Project is designed to remove 20,000 pounds of phosphorus, prevent 10 million pounds of algae growth and save $6 million in clean-up costs through a one-day effort.

More than 100 girls in Minnetonka and Excelsior will spend the day raking leaves and grass from storm drain surfaces and public areas, distributing door hangers in neighborhoods to raise awareness and marking storm drains with an “Only Rain Down the Storm Drain” message.

Every year, thousands of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa waterways are polluted with runoff and other contaminants. In partnership with the Freshwater Society and with support from 3M, River Valleys’ Centennial Day of Service honors Girl Scouts’ longstanding tradition of service and gives back to communities that have embraced Girl Scout troops for decades.

To learn more about the Centennial Day of Service: 2012 Take Action Project, visit GSRV100.org.

About Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys

Each year, the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys serves nearly 45,000 girls in 49 counties of southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

In partnership with nearly 18,000 adult volunteers, River Valleys helps girls discover new abilities, connect with new friends and take action to improve their communities. Girl Scouts is the world’s preeminent leadership development organization for girls and builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

For more information, call 800-845-0787 or visit GirlScoutsRV.org. 

About the Freshwater Society
The Freshwater Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring people to value, conserve and protect all water resources. Located in Excelsior, Minn., adjacent to Lake Minnetonka, it has a 44 yearlong history of protecting Minnesota’s water resources. Learn more at www.freshwater.org.